Or he's just trying to avoid the press. I just love it when the media speculates when he misses calling a game do to HIS FATHER'S DEATH!!! And it won't end until Ohio hires a coach, but it's possible he is just letting the firestorm calm down or that ESPN is asking him to not comment on a game that could be a conflict of interest. It wasn't that long ago when Les Miles was "a lock" to be the Michigan head coach. I'll believe Urban is their coach when I see it. Until then just BEAT OHIO!!!

Conflict of interest like being a former player of one of the teams and living in one of the cities and appearing on one of local radio broadcasts supporting the home team. Based on this, conflicts of interest don't seem to be an issue for ESPN.

The past is history, the future's a mystery. Being alive in this moment is a gift--that's why they call it the present.

Or conflict of interest like calling games - including the Rose Bowl for a potential National Championship - that your son is the starting QB in. (That would be Bob and Brian Griese for you youngins) Spielman can be a bit of an oaf, but he's always called it straight when on the air. That's really all I care about.

since you have already proved yourself an imbecile, I'll add insult to injury. Meyer was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, which is in the far northeast corner of the state, nowhere near Columbus. He played football for Cincinatti, as well. Take your soulless stupidity to some other blog.

Isn't that what Gene Smith said at the first Tressel press conference after the TatGate scandal became full blown? Seriously, for a program that just came off the rails because of the dishonesty of the head coach, you'd think they look harder for someone with an impeccable reputation for honesty. As in, someone who didn't leave a perfect job in Florida because he reportedly cheated on his wife and, by the wife's ultimatum, it was her or the job.

Aw man, Spielman is calling the game? I have to be subjected to another 3 hours of him bitching about Michigan's offensive playcalling and generally sounding like he would rather be anywhere else in the world? Mute button, ho!

We pretty much already know he's going to be the coach. This tidbit doesn't mean much - even if he weren't intending on taking the job, the circumstances are such that him being the announcer would be REALLY awkward. It was bad enough last week.

so it is a good assumption he doesn't want to be placed in the position of criticizing OSU coaching or players especially if he is the next OSU coach. His request seems to confirm the rumors he will be the next coach.

He will be good for the B10. The league definitely needs an upgrade. Watching LSU maul Arkansas only demonstrated how far the Big 10 needs to improve. Our big10 champion last year MSU lost to Alabama 48-0 in whichever bowl.

I emailed ESPN about this issue (Meyer, future OSU coach, having special access) and got a message back:

"Thank you for your letter. Conflicts of interest or apparent conflicts are an impediment to credibility and something that ESPN takes very seriously. When the complaints are specific to a show or to an article on espn.com, I forward them to the producer or editor in charge of that content. When there are several complaints on the same topic, I do a weekly tabulation that becomes part of a report sent to all of ESPN's top management. (I do the same for positive comments.) I cannot assure you that your complaints or mine will result in action, but I can assure you they are not lost in some cyberspace void. They are read, thought about, disseminated."

You won't hear a negative word about Ohio out of him either. My gawd I can't believe I'm wishing for Matt Millen right now. What about Nessler and Blackledge? They have done the Game in the past. Just because everyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion what the outcome will be and that Ohio is down so the game is not as big of a deal.

I think even Pasch is biased against MIchigan and Denard. With those guys, it's like they are just waiting for Michigan to make a mistake so they analyze it to death and show how "non-Michigan" that play was.

I'm glad I'll be at the game and I'll watch the recording on Sunday morning.

What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve and...Those Who Stay WILL Be Champions.

I really want Michigan to dismantle Ohio, and listen to Spielman tryng to remain objective while his old team is getting pushed up and down the field. Spielman really does try to stay objective, and was one of the first of the "Sacred Brotherhood" to actually admit in public that something was wrong in Columbus.

As much as I would like to pile on here, Herbie got chased out of Columbus, and Spielman is being called Ohio's "conscience" by many in the media. The bottom line for me is that it doesn't bother me nearly as much to listen to former Ohio players do commentary when Michigan wins as it does when Ohio wins.

Assuming we win (BEAT OHIO!) it probably would be fun to watch the replay on espn3 or something. I mean, watching the replay if we win (BEAT OHIO!) is going to be sweet and righteous anyway, but listening to the confidence and cockiness drain from Spielman's commentary as the game goes on will also be a nice little bonus.

has a conflict of interest here. The man lives in Columbus, outwardly supported Tressel thru TatGate and is obviously a Buckeye fan. Having this team do the Game is an insult to Michigan fans everywhere.

What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve and...Those Who Stay WILL Be Champions.

I don't have a link, but I live in COlumbus and today on the radio (97.1 the fan) they said there are some reports that Notre Dame will be firing Brian Kelly and that Urban Meyer is going to be his replacement. Not sure how credible the information is, and I cant find anything online but just thought it was worth mentioning.

but not because of the LSU game, it's because our conference is slower and plays a kind of defense that the top SEC teams would destroy.

The B1G will not be able to compete with the SEC on the field as long as Bama, LSU and the rest of the SEC recruit by different rules. The coaches skirt the rules in recruiting, whether it's gifts and accomodations for recruits, to over-signing to way too much contact with recruits. The B1G follows the rules in general and each year they fall a little farther behind. Hell, even with USC having sanctions they are ahead of the B1G because they have access to all the best 5-star athletes in California. The weather, climate and social life in AA, South Bend, EL etc is no match for Southern California. I'd say the disparity between the elite programs Bama, LSU, Oklahoma, USC; and the next level is widening every season. How else can you explain the top three teams are all from the SEC and the NC game will include a team that's not even in its conference championship game?

I listened to two guys on ESPN radio yesterday and they were talking about Meyer taking the job and it was a done deal and that coaching in the B1G will be much easier for him because while ther B1G is a good conference and serious about football, it's light years from the SEC. They stated that being a coach in the SEC, including assistants is a 24/7 job. There is no family time, coaching is their life, not a job. They stated that Meyer will be able to be just as successful in Columbus as he was at Florida while working less and seeing his family. They mentioned that the assistants at Oklahoma are usually home by 6 pmp every night to have dinner with their families. It's much more work/life balance there. In the SEC it's all football all the time.

What the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve and...Those Who Stay WILL Be Champions.

one has a clue what he is going to do. I mean wouldnt he wanna wait till December 10th to get the results back from the NCAA before he decides? I wouldnt take the job if they get USC type problems hit against them. 30 schollies and 3 year bowl ban. So I am thinkink untill that whole decision is made in December Urban will not be taking the job any sooner than that.

21 years of coaching and every senior who stayed had at least 1 big ten title... That is what " Those who stay will be champions" will really get you Ohio native Bo Schembechler.

Hi. My name is Urbane-thanks mom...a couple of things...I didn't really have an affair with a coed...did you ever see Gene Hackman's laugh in the Royal Tanenbaums when he's talking with Ben Stiller?...that's me right now. Only 32 NOT 33 of my players got arrested. What's the big deal about a little eye gouge? My offensive coordinator sucked and I'm glad he's at that no-name U in Mississippi-I called all the plays-Tananebaum laugh-And who really cares? Gordon Gee's my boss....lots of Tanenbaums laughs!!!!!!! Now some vomit....

Hi. My name is Urbane-thanks mom...a couple of things...I didn't really have an affair with a coed...did you ever see Gene Hackman's laugh in the Royal Tanenbaums when he's talking with Ben Stiller?...that's me right now. Only 32 NOT 33 of my players got arrested. What's the big deal about a little eye gouge? My offensive coordinator sucked and I'm glad he's at that no-name U in Mississippi-I called all the plays-Tananebaum laugh-And who really cares? Gordon Gee's my boss....lots of Tanenbaums laughs!!!!!!! Now some vomit....

SEC fans and coaches pretty much tore up his resume. Seems to come in, do well with someone else's players then get outta town before things go shitty. Also had Mullen with him every step of the way, who was the real genius of the offense according to the callers and guests.